The Disappearance and Murder of Carla Walker and the Ft. Worth PD's Run Around

Jillybean · Senior Member

The Disappearance and Murder of Carla Walker and the Ft. Worth PD's Run Around

Navywife · Guru

That is such bs!! It's sad that you can hardly tell the difference anymore between a cop and a criminal, since so many of them these days are basically criminals with badges. I'm not saying all law enforcement is corrupt, but a good chunk of it is. I truly hope Carla's family get the justice and the answers they deserve.

Jillybean · Senior Member

Just wanted to bump this back up to the top. I want to encourage everyone on this board to email anyone that you can think of with the brief details of this story. Be sure to include the links to Justice Junction's articles and to the Carla Walker website (www.justiceforcarla.com), if we can't do so much as to send a couple of emails then nothing is ever going to happen with this case. I think that Dateline and MSN would be very interested with this story so come on y'all.. start sending those emails!

Jillybean · Senior Member

It's interesting to note that when I was almost done completing the series of articles on Carla Walker, I came across Ft.Worth PD's cold case files and could find no mention of Carla's case anywhere. I went back into the site last night and suprise suprise - all the sudden it was listed second from the top. Like I said in our updates page, I don't know if Justice Junction had anything to do with that or not but it sure made me a happy camper!

Jill

annarocket · Guru

Dude,I love me some Dateline. And this case stinks all over the place.

This would make an AWESOME feature for them or even 48 Hours. evileye

michelle · Veteran Member

If you look at the FORT WORTH PD web site you will find that the CARLA WALKER case is in the cold case section and it is the second one in line!
Why would Wilhoit abduct CARLA right in the presence of somebody who could possibly id him before the boyfriend was knocked out cold? This is a very interesting question!

-- Edited by michelle on Wednesday 2nd of September 2009 12:00:13 PM

michelle · Veteran Member

michelle wrote:

michelle wrote:

Why would Wilhoit grab CARLA in front of Rodney who would be able to id Wilhoit before he hit him on the head!
Why didn't anybody call the police when they saw Rodney slumped over the front seat of the car with the door open!
Did anyone find the gun the clip came from?
If Wilhoit was a burglar and a stalker and the fact that he only went to houses with a lone female why would he so brave as to go after CARLA!
They were getting into the car when someone jerked open the passenger door and grabbed Carla. Rodney said he struggled with the attacker but was hit over the head and knocked unconscious. He does remember the man saying, "I'm going to kill you."

annarocket · Guru

Hi Michelle,I'm annarocket.I'm an admin. here and I moderate this board.

I'm really glad you are here because you sound like you can add something to the discussion of Carla's story. I did edit some posts down that were repetitive but the original info is still all here.

I'd also like to second Jill's suggestion that we email the media outlets who feature stories like this. Think positive change,people. evileye

michelle · Veteran Member

Here's a good question for you.
What did Rodney McCoy have to say to the police when he
was questioned? And did he get a chance to see the face
of the attacker he was struggling with?
And I quot "Rodney said he struggled with the attacker".or is it "The man
struggling with Carla told Rodney", "I'm going to kill you."
Which is it?
Rumors and stories: they get so out of proportion by the time it reaches the fifth
person it doesn't say the same thing or mean the same thing!
As the saying goes:you think that someone is listening to you but they actually are not!
Even what people describe what they see!
Bible: people have ears and hear not!
people have eyes and see not!

annarocket · Guru

I will agree that rumors and stories get out of control and people will talk.

When the authorities have credible witnesses,they often do not release information to the public to preserve the investigation. evileye

Jillybean · Senior Member

Michelle,
Hi, glad to see you on the board .. welcome! If you'll notice in my post (the post just before yours that mentions that the Ft.Worth Pd FINALLY updates their Cold Case Files page to include Carla's case) I mentioned that the Ft.Worth Pd had updated their page and finally included the Carla Walker case; up until Justice Junction posted the series of articles on Carla's case, they had nothing posted on their Cold Case pages. You do ask some legitmate questions that I will pass along along to J. Houston and Retired Detective Terrell and find out what they have to say; I'll post their response to my emails.

Jill

Jillybean · Senior Member

Hi Michelle,

The exact quote was "Around midnight, she and Rodney were sitting in his car when the door was jerked open and Carla was dragged from the car. Rodney grabbed her, but was hit over the head with a pistol. The man struggling with Carla told Rodney, "I'm going to kill you." So there's really no telling if Rodney actually could identify the man who attacked Carla, but I will email retired Detective Terrell and ask him. I'll post his response to the Discussion Board when I get it.
Jill

michelle · Veteran Member

This an example of of what I mentioned in another post about rumors and stories!

http://justiceforcarla.com/thecase.shtml
Around midnight, she and Rodney were sitting in his car when the door was jerked open and Carla was dragged from the car. Rodney grabbed her, but was hit over the head with a pistol. The man struggling with Carla told Rodney, "I'm going to kill you."

http://www.unsolved-crimes.com/walker.html
They were getting into the car when someone jerked open the passenger door and grabbed Carla. Rodney said he struggled with the attacker but was hit over the head and knocked unconscious. He does remember the man saying, "I'm going to kill you."

http://www.justicejunction.com/carla_walker.html
On Around midnight, she and Rodney were sitting in his car when the door was jerked open and Carla was dragged from the car. Rodney grabbed her, but was hit over the head with a pistol. The man struggling with Carla told Rodney, "I'm going to kill you."

www.fortworthpd.com/1970s.htm

Synopsis:
On February 17, 1974, Carla Walker was kidnapped while she sat in a car with her boyfriend at the Ridglea Bowl parking lot.
And that is all the police have to say and gives no other details!

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3149847

This is located just under another cold case when two girls went missing from a mall #149

In 1975, there was no curfew in Ft. Worth and many kids and high school kids would stay out or sneak out their bedroom windows and stay out to all hours.
Carla Walker - the rumor around the high schools was that she and her boyfriend were actually making out in the car at the time they were attacked. The parking lot they were in was for a bowling alley located on the south side of the Benbrook Traffic Circle. According to the story I hear, they had left the car doors unlocked. The killer merely opened the door and wailed away at the boyfriend with a baseball bat. The boyfriend was badly injured and obviously attacked from behind, so, there is no way he could be considered a suspect. As to why he moved from the area, frankly, Ft. Worth doesn't have that many job opportunities compared to other cities. I'm sure he moved for the same reason I and most of my friends moved - to live in a place with job opportunities.

http://archive.fwweekly.com/content.asp?article=3219

Carla Walker was an outgoing, athletic, and popular student at Western Hills High School. She and her boyfriend, Rodney McCoy, went to a Valentines Day dance at the high school on Feb. 17, 1974 a Saturday night and, afterward, met friends at a popular drive-through restaurant not far from her parents South Fort Worth home. At about midnight, Walker said she needed to use the restroom, and McCoy drove her to a nearby bowling alley. McCoy walked her into the building and waited for her. They were getting into the car when someone jerked open the passenger door and grabbed Walker. McCoy said he struggled with the attacker but was hit over the head and knocked unconscious, although he remembered the man saying, Im going to kill you. Police later found a clip for a .22-caliber Ruger semi-automatic pistol lying in the parking lot and speculated that it had fallen from the kidnappers pistol.

http://www.dreamindemon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11459

Name:Carla WalkerPlace:Fort Worth, TexasBirthdate: January 31, 1957 age 17 at time of crimeDescription:White Female
Long blonde hair
Carla was last seen wearing a light blue dress which was found at the scene when her remains were discovered.Carla and her boyfriend, Rodney,went to a Valentine's Day dance at the high school on Feb. 17, 1974, a Saturday night. Afterwards the couple met friends at a popular drive-through restaurant not far from Carla's South Fort Worth home. At approximately midnight, Carla needed to use the restroom, and Rodney drove her to a nearby bowling alley. Rodney walked her into the building and waited for her.
They were getting into the car when someone jerked open the passenger door and grabbed Carla. Rodney said he struggled with the attacker but was hit over the head and knocked unconscious. He does remember the man saying, "I'm going to kill you." Police later found a clip for a .22-caliber Ruger semi-automatic pistol lying in the parking lot and speculated that it had fallen from the kidnapper's pistol. When he awoke Carla was gone. Bleeding from his head, he drove to Carla's parents house to report her missing.
On February 20, 1974 Carla's body was found under a culvert near Benbrook Lane in Tarrant County. The medical examiner said Carla had apparently been drugged with morphine, raped, and kept alive for about two days before being strangled.
Carla Walker was an outgoing, athletic, and popular student at Western Hills High School.

-- Edited by michelle on Monday 7th of September 2009 12:30:53 PM

michelle · Veteran Member

http://www.findmonica.org/news/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=109

On February 17, 1974, seventeen-year-old Carla Walker was abducted from the parking lot of a west Fort Worth, Texas bowling alley. She and her boyfriend, Rodney McCoy had stopped to use the restrooms.
Around midnight, she and Rodney were sitting in his car when the door was jerked open and Carla was dragged from the car. Rodney grabbed her, but was hit over the head with a pistol. The man struggling with Carla told Rodney, "I'm going to kill you."
Knocked unconscious by the blow to his head, Rodney awoke to find Carla gone. With blood streaming down his face, he drove the few short blocks to the home of Carla's parents to report the crime.
On February 20, 1974, Carla's body was found under a culvert, near Benbrook Lake, a few miles from her home. She had been raped and strangled.

michelle · Veteran Member

I just sent an email A&E's COLD CASE and AMERICAS MOST WANTED ,and just waiting to hear back from them.

Jillybean · Senior Member

michelle wrote:

Here's a good question for you.
What did Rodney McCoy have to say to the police when he
was questioned? And did he get a chance to see the face
of the attacker he was struggling with?
And I quot "Rodney said he struggled with the attacker".or is it "The man
struggling with Carla told Rodney", "I'm going to kill you."
Which is it?
Rumors and stories: they get so out of proportion by the time it reaches the fifth
person it doesn't say the same thing or mean the same thing!
As the saying goes:you think that someone is listening to you but they actually are not!
Even what people describe what they see!
Bible: people have ears and hear not!
people have eyes and see not!

First off, everything in my article came first hand from the investigating detective John Terrell, NOTHING that I posted is rumor on ANY level - there are some opinions and circumstantial evidence - but NOT A SINGLE rumor. I'm rather curious that you're defending a man like Wilhoit so actively - do you know him by any chance? I'm just curious because most people will not defend a convicted rapist to this degree unless they either know him/her or are related to them. The fact that when detectives showed up at Wilhoit's home and Wilhoit answered, I wonder when you'd come after me about the Carla thing and then stopped short of confessing while in interrogation pretty much seals his fate. But, to each their own I suppose, some people will see what they want to see. There is a website located at www.justiceforcarla.com where you can contact retired Det. Turrell yourself if you'd like to. He can probably answer most of the questions that you've got.

Jill

michelle · Veteran Member

I am not defending Wilhoit,I just want the bastard to pay for what he did!
According to Terrell's "theory" that Wilhoit had done it,but without the actual DNA evidence to prove it he gets off Scot-free!
It is sad to note that DNA testing was not around in 1974!
I am just asking questions and pointing other facts that I know of,nothing else!
According to the websites I just happened to take note of,there is considerable differences in the other stories:fort-worth weekly!
Getting in the car and sitting in the car are two different actions!
People have the tendency to change in the way they tell of an experience or circumstance from what really took place and change the their story!

I just added the story of CARLA from Justice Junction and the one from Justice for Carla to AMW and A&E's cold case files!

DON'T LET JUSTICE BE BLIND FOREVER!

-- Edited by michelle on Sunday 13th of September 2009 12:35:36 PM

Jillybean · Senior Member

michelle wrote:

I am not defending Wilhoit,I just want the bastard to pay for what he did!
According to Terrell's "theory" that Wilhoit had done it,but without the actual DNA evidence to prove it he gets off Scot-free!
It is sad to note that DNA testing was not around in 1974!
I am just asking questions and pointing other facts that know of,nothing else!
According to the websites I just happened to take note of,there is considerable differences in the other stories:fort-worth weekly!
Getting in the car and sitting in the car are two different actions!
People have the tendency to change in the way they tell of an experience or circumstance from what really took place and change the their story!

I just added the story of CARLA from Justice Junction and the one from Justice for Carla to AMW and A&E's cold case files!

DON'T LET JUSTICE BE BLIND FOREVER!

-- Edited by michelle on Saturday 12th of September 2009 07:50:52 PM
Michelle,
Gotcha and glad to hear it! And I know what you mean about people changing a story - that's why when I started working on this story, I got my info straight from the horses mouth (so to speak lol) I'm glad that you added the stories to AMW and A&E, I've done that too so many the more people that add them the more interested they'll get! I do apologize if I sounded ummmm well rude would be a good word because I honestly didn't mean to - my kids are driving me batty! I do wonder what evidence they have left from the crime - the DFW PD's press release stated that the ONE detective they finally decided to get on the case has located the evidence - I have no clue what that means but it's interesting to note that they didn't have Carla's case up on their cold case files until AFTER we printed our series of articles - only THEN did they put her case file up - the $#@%$^%$@. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not a cop hater and I don't think that ALL cops are bad, but I do think that they get tunnel vision AND refuse to admit when they've screwed up. That said - I'm off for awhile, I'm still working on updating Justice Junction and I'm only about 6 pages in with about another 200 to go as well as adding a new Discussion Board, Guestbook and hopefully CHAT YAY! Catch soon Michelle!
Jill

michelle · Veteran Member

There is no statue of limitations on murder!So when they catch the person who did this he can still face prosecution!

michelle · Veteran Member

If you eliminate the impossible whatever remains however improbable must be the truth!

-- Edited by michelle on Tuesday 29th of September 2009 05:44:09 PM

michelle · Veteran Member

Doesn't anyone else have a comment to what I posted?

michelle · Veteran Member

I was actually hoping that somebody would have something else to say about this case, but I kinda gather that no one is either interested in this case or are at a loss for words!

annarocket · Guru

Other than what you have said,Michelle,I don't know what I can contribute. It does seem as if you are very familliar with Willhoit and this case in general. I read what Jill posted and seeing that she interviewed the dectives about Carla's case,she pretty much knows what's going on.

I agree that we all should still contact media outlets such as 48 Hours,Dateline ID. I'm always happy to harass the mainstream media especially if it is for an important reason. evileye

michelle · Veteran Member

Here is what I know (assuming that the information that I
received is correct)
A person fitting WILHOIT description was seen sitting on
the bleachers beside the race track during a track meet at
the WESTERN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL (GYM CLASS) one
or two days before she was killed!
She was an excellent runner (very athletic)

annarocket · Guru

Do the the police have this information,Michelle?

Have you told Jill this,seeing that she's been in communication with the dectectives that worked on Carla's case? evileye

michelle · Veteran Member

The only other places I posted is on : http://www.dreamindemon.com/forums and on the justiceforcarla.com guestbook. I will find out if it is true or not because it is just here say and not proven!

annarocket · Guru

I'm emailing Jill about this so she knows.This one's hers,I don't have the background she does on this. evileye

michelle · Veteran Member

IN THEORY:
Wilhoit "might" have followed Carla and Rodney from the high school all the way to were she lived.He then "might have followed them to the dance.
After leaving the dance He then followed them to a local A&W restaurant and then to the bowling alley where she was later abducted! WHAT IF!

-- Edited by michelle on Wednesday 11th of November 2009 01:03:40 AM

-- Edited by michelle on Wednesday 11th of November 2009 01:05:22 AM

michelle · Veteran Member

This is what I found on justice for carla web site guest book:
Name:
john
Comments:
John Terrell should have handed this case to the right department! It would have had a better outcome! And Although he probably promised the family that he would do everything in his power to try to solve this case!
He went about it the wrong way!
He unintentionally made this case go so cold it would never see the light of day ever again!
If John Terrell had backed off and let the homicide detectives do their job this case would have been solved a long time ago!

I do thank him for the work and keeping this case alive for so long.
Tuesday, November 24 2009 - 08:39 PM

michelle · Veteran Member

You guys may think I'm crazy,but I looked on the web and found out that the 22-caliber Ruger semi-automatic pistol is standard issue for the US army and possibly the police.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_Standard